Laundering machine



Feb. 5 1924a W. H. COTTON LAUNDERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1924., v

w. H. COTTON LAUNDERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 5 @246 1,482,839

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W. H. COTTON LAUNDERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1919 5 sheets-sheet a V w mm mm /0% in 7/4972/07": www- X m Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. COTTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LAUNDERING MACHINE.

Application filed September 10, 1919. Serial No. 822,884.

To all whom it may concern.

.Be it known that I, WALTER H. Co'rroN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Laundering Machines, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to washing machines, and has for an object the provision of a unitary piece of apparatus which may simultaneously carry on the operations of washing fabrics, and extracting water from fabrics and perform both operations in the most eificient manner.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a lan view. partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a etail section parts being shown in elevation, the section taken on line 3-3 .of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of Fig. 1 with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a similar section on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on broken line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is detail elevation partly in section of the extractor clutch mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8-8 of, Fig. 7;

Ifgig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the ta e;

Fig. 10 is a detail section of the table driving gear, and lower portion of the table shaft;

Figs. '11 and 12 are detail plan views, respectively, of frame members, Fig. 12 showing' a fragment of the portion to which the frame is attached;

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of a pawl and pivoting arm;

Fig. 14 is a detail section on line 1414 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 15--15 of Fig. 6.

To carry on the operations of washing and extracting water there is shown a vat, as 10, for washing, and a vat 11 for the extraction of water. These vats are preferably formed of non-corrodible sheet metal. In order that the machine may stand steadily upon uneven floors it is preferred to utilize three legs, as 12, 13 and 14,'each being shown as rovided with a caster, as 15.

o carry the motor, as 16, and certain operating mechanism, a base, as 17, of a generally triangular form, is shown which base is preferably made of cast metal. The leg 12 is shown as round, and as secured in a depression in the base by a clamping clip 18, fastened by bolts, as 19. Legs 13 and 14 are preferably made of two separated members, as 20, 21. The inner members 21 may be secured by a screw or bolt to a lug, as 22, cast integral with base 17, and at its top may be riveted to the material of the vat, while the outer member 20 may lap past the outside of the frame and be secured thereto, as by screw 180 (Fig. 1) at its bottom, and at its top may be secured by bolts, over which spacing tubes 170 may be slipped to preserve the spacing of the members. For the support of vat 10, and operating mechanism to be described, a frame, shown as comprising two parts 23 and 24, is attached to the legs 12, 13 and 14. Part 23 of this frame (Fig. 11) is preferably substantially rectangular in form, two opposite angles bein secured to legs 13 and 14, as at 25, 26. third'angle of frame member 23 is preferably flattened for connection with frame member 24 at 27. For support of the bot tom of the vat 10 a bridge member 28, comprising four arms, is cast inte al with the frame member 23, extending om' each of its angles to the opposite angle. The el ments of the frame members 23 and 24 are shown as angular in cross-section, and the vat 10 as seating on the horizontal flange of the angle.

An opening, as at 29, may be formed in the bridge member 28, with a depression, as at 30, surrounding the opening. Under these circumstances the bottom 31 of the vat may be formed with a perforation, to register with the opening 29 in the bridge member, and may be pressed into. water-tight relation with the bridge member 28 by means of a bushing, as 32, shown as having a flange 33 and a threaded portion 34' for reception of a nut 35. A gasket, as 36, ma be ap plied to prevent leakage, and a stu ng box,

' as 181 may be riveted to'its center, and a second casting, as 182 may be riveted to the walls of vats 10 and 11. A bolt as 183, with a flat countersunk head may be passed through the sheet 43 and through the two castings and thus detachably hold the sheet in operative ition.

Power to rive the entire mechanism is supplied preferably by an electric motor indicated at 44 which is shown as having a bevel gear, as 45, on its armature shaft which bevel gear meshes with a second.

bevel gear, as 46, upon a vertical shaft, as 47, to cover the gears 45 and 46 as well as to contain oil for their lubrication, a casing is shown, as at 48, which is preferably formed in two ortions divided at 49. The

lower half of t e casing is shown as carrying a journal, as 50, for the lower end of shaft 47 and a flan as 51 for bolting to the frame member 1%? The upr end of the shaft carries a worm, as at 52, 1' ig. 6, meshing with a gear wheel as 53 which is mqunted loose on a counter shaft as 54. The direction of rotation which it is, preferred to impart to shaft 47 will result in a downward thrust on said shaft from the worm gearin To relieve the gears and 46 from t is thrust-there is indicated a thrust bearing at 55, a ball bearing being preferably util1zed,.which hearing will transmit the thrust to the casing 48'. The top of the shaft 47 will also preferably be journaled in aball bearing, as at 56, carried by framemember 24. A casing as 57 for worm and gear, 52, 53 is shown, the lower half of whichfas well as the lower half of bearings, 58, 59 for the shaft 54 may be cast integral with the frame member 24, and is adapted to contain lubricant for the gearin I or the purpose of at will causing shaft 54 to revolve with gear 53 said gear may be provided with a bushing rigid with itself, as at 60, which bushin carries a notched clutch element, as 61. 5 slidable clutch element 62 is shown as mating with element 61 and as slidableon the shaft and prevented from revolving. thereon by a in 63. A milled head, as 64, may be provi d for the grasp of the hand of the operator. With the parts in the positionshown the shaft 54 will beoforced to turn with the gear 53.

To stop the shaft the head 64 will be grasped and the clutch element 62 slipped longitudinally of the shaft out of engagement with element 61.

The washing operation is carried out by indicated at 42 havingiae'aaae means of the vertically reciprocable suction cups as 65, two being shown. These cups are shown as mounted on a U-shaped bar,

as 69, which for strength is preferably made.

T-shaped cross section. The cups are shown asv mounted on spindles 66, which may reciprocate in the bar being held at the lower limlt of movement by a .relatively stifi spring as 67 housed in a tubular housing as 68. In case of too great resistance to depression of the cups the springs 67 will yield and tend to prevent damage to the v mechanism.

The ends 70, 71, of the bar 69 are shown as provided with slots opening to the end of the bar for reciprocation of the upper flattened ends of arms 72, 73. The end 70 of rod 69 has a pin slot, as 74, which ma be slipped over a pin, as (Figs. 3 and 4) permanently secured in bar72. The end '71 of rod 69 has its slot extended, as indicated at 76, and is provided with a hole for reception of a removable pin, as 77, preferably attached to a chain, as 78, secured to the le 20 to prevent loss. The upper end of re 73 may bear a hole registering with that in bar 69. When material is to be placed in or removed from the vat 10, the pin 77 may be removed, when the bar may be raised until clear of pin 75' and then freely removed.

For reciprocation of the cups 65 the rods 72, 73, are mounted to slide in blocks 79,

mounted on pins 80, between the upper ends of members 20, 21, which constitute legs 13 and 14. At their lower ends rods 72, 73, are pivoted, as at 81', 82,- to crank arms, as 83, 84, which crank arms are shown as secured to crank shaft 85 by means of set-screws 86. In addition to vertical motion the cranks 83, 84 will impart a slight pendulum-like motion to rods 72, 73, which will be permitted in blocks 79 by their motion of rotation about pins 80. This pendulum-like motion will not be sufficient to take the arms from between the members 20, 21.

Crank shaft 85 is shown as journaled in brackets 87 87, which may be bolted to frame 17, as at 88, the cranks 83, 84, bein preferably secured to the ends of the 'shafi which project beyond the bearings. For imparting a motionof oscillation to the crank shaft 85, a crank 89 is shown as secured thereon, preferably by both a key and a set-screw, as 90. The other end of crank 89 is shown as pivotally connected to a link, as 91, which in turn is connected with a crank, as 92, rigid with shaft 54, the o ration of which has been described.

It is desirable that material to be washed shall be moved in order that the suction cup 65 ma be applied to different portions thereo To this end a table, as 93, is shown, comprising preferably a cast metal spider having a center hub, as 94, radial arms, as 95, and a rim, as 96, and a sheet metal plate, as 97, superimposed thereon and secured thereto. The plate 97 is preferably formed with radial corrugations, as indicated at 98, in Fig. 9, and is shown as perforated, at 99, 99 in Figs. 2 and 9. The corrugations are for the purpose of giving the plate a grip on material being washed, so as to insure that the material shall partake of movements of revolution imparted to the plate. The perforations are for passage of water driven downward and sucked upward through the material by action of cups 65.

To cause an intermittent motion of revolution of the table it is shown as secured upon the squared and tapered end 100 of shaft 38, by means of a nut 101. a

The lower end of shaft 38 is shown as having a hub 102 secured thereto, as by a pin 103. The hub 102 is shown as formed integralwith a gear wheel 104, and as having a groove 105 formed therein for a purpose to be explained. A second gear, as 106, shown as vertically elongated, may be journaled on a stub-shaft, as 107, supported in a projection 108 from the frame 17.

For operation of the gearing described a pawl, as 109, the tipof which coacts with the cogs of gearj'w heel 106, is shown as pivoted to an arm 110 (Figs. 6 and 13). Arm 110 is shown as pivoted to the frame 17 at 111. Integral with pawl 109, and extending beyond its pivot, is shown a projection 112, to which a spring 113 is shown attached, the other end of the spring being attached to frame 17. The tension of the spring will both retract pawl 109, until arm 110 strikes the stop 114, and keep the tip of the pawl in contact with the cogs of i the gear wheel 106.

To operate the pawl an arm, as 115, shown as secured to the shaft 85 by a set-screw 116', may be arranged'to strike the arm 110 adjacent its .pivoted connection with the pawl. Due to the arrangement of parts shown this action of the arm 115 upon the pawl 109 will take place while cups are -at approximately their highest point and out of contact with the material, and hence the latter will be free to revolve.

Since the path of reciprocation of cups 65 is fixed, their action on unequal quantities of fabrics would be different were the table stationary in the bottom of the vat. For adjustment vertically of the table a yoke, as 116, shaped to fit around hub 102 in the groove 105, is provided, and the yoke has a threaded hole at each end. These threaded holes are adapted. to coact with vertical threaded spindles 117 and 118, shown as J journaled in frame 17 at 119 and 120, and

supported therein, as by collars 121, rigid with the spindles. Spindle 117 is shown as provided with a bevel gear 122, meshing with the gear 106, due to the elongation of the latter.

It is desirable to have the material which has been washed lifted out of the hot and soapy water without putting the hands into the water. With the spindles threaded throughout their length, as shown. continued rotation of the crank 125 will raise the table to a point above bead 128, which is provided to mark the water line. The cups will have been removed before the table is raised. With the material thus elevated the wash water may be permitted to drain therefrom before placing the same into the extractor for further treatment, thus conserving hot water and soap.

To keep the water hot while the machine is in use, a gas burner, as 129, may be secured to the frame 23, as by a bracket 130.

For extraction of water from the washed material a centrifugal extractor is indicated mounted in vat 11. This extractor comprises a rotatable basket, as 131, perforated at its vertical-wall, as 132, and at its bottom, as 133, for the escape of water.

The central portion, as 134, of the bottom of the basket, shown as conical in form, is preferably made of cast metal, and is shown as provided with a hub, as 135, adapted to flange 141, may be superimposed on the bottom of the vat and bolted through the frame 39, a gasket, as 142, being preferably supplied.

The collar 140 serves two ends. tends above the expected high water level in the vat and renders a stufling box unnecessary, and it serves to carry a bearing, preferablya roller hearing, as 143, well up in the conical bottom of the basket, where any unbalanced stresses, due to the spinning of the material, will be carried with least strain upon the shaft 137. The weight of the basket and material will be carried by the upper bearing 143, which must, therefore, be of such a form as will resist thrust as well as rotation movement. A second bearing for shaft 137, also preferably a roller bearing, is shown as mounted in frame members 24, at 144.

For the drive of the shaft 137 agear 145, loose on the shaft 137, is shown as in mesh with gear 146, secured to shaft 47. A cover for both gears 145 and 146 may be provided, as indicated at 177. The basket, when laden with wet material, would put a heavy load on the motor if thrown into gear therewith through the medium of a positive clutch. Yet it is desirable to be able to start the basket by a single movement on the part of the operator without further attention.

A friction clutch that will start the basket gradually is shown in detail-in Fig. 7. A bushing, as 147, having a friction disc, as 1.48, integral therewith, is secured to the shaft, and gear wheel 145 is mounted on the bushing, being freely revoluble and slidable thereon. A second friction disc, as 149, is also slidable on the bushing 147. Annular friction rings 150 are shown as seated in depressions in the faces of gear wheel 145, projecting slightly above the surface of the gear wheel. A collar, as 151, may be placed over the lower portion of the bushing 147, and secured thereto and to the shaft 137 by bolt 152. When disc 149 is pressed against gear wheel 145, pressing it in turn against disc 148, the motion of the gear wheel will be transmitted to the discs, and hence to the shaft.

To apply the force transmitted to disc 149 to the shaft, the collar 151 has twoportions, as 153, 154, projected beyond the end of the remaining portion of the collar, and recesses 155, 156, are formed in the periphery of the central opening of disc 149,

to form a sliding fit with these portions. Hence, while disc 149 is freely slidable on bushing 147 it cannot revolve without carrying the collar and bushing and shaft with it.

In order that the lower friction surface 150 of the gear wheel 145 may not revolve in contact with the disc 149 when the clutch is off and gear wheel falls by gravity on the bushing 147, the raised portions 153, 154,

same when the disc is at its lowest position. Hence the gear 145 will be supported by and revolve upon portions 153, 154, under these circumstances, and very little friction will result.

The disc 149 is shown as forced upward when the basket is to be started by a plurality (two being shown) of centrifugal acting weights, as 157, 158, pivoted at 159, 160, between a pair of bars, as 161, 162, shown as cast integral with the collar 151. Each weight inay have a broad finger, as 163, 164, which will lift the disc 149 when the weights 157, 158, move outwardl To give the weights an initial outwar movement when eeaese released sufiicient to cause a slight friction between the discs 148, 149, and gear wheel 145, helical springs, as 165, are placed under compression in registering openings in the weights, which springs tend to push the weights apart. The shaft 137 is shown as reduced in size below the collar 151 and bushin 147, and the weights are preferably forme to fit closely against the reduced portion of the shaft.

To restrain the weights against the pressure of springs 165, their lower extremities are formed with tapered projections 166, 167, and a sliding member 168, having a conical interior to coact with the projections, is provided. For actuation of member 168 a lever, as 169, having a forked end 170, is shown as pivotally attached to the member and as pivoted to leg 12, as at 171, by means of a pin passed through the leg and through branches of the lever 169 which pass on the two sides of the le One of the branches is extended, as at 1 2, to form a handle for actuation of the clutch.

To hold the sliding member 168 in either of its two positions, grooves, as 173, 174, are shoWn in shaft 137, and a ball 175, which is pressed into one of the grooves, as by a spring 176. Pressure on the handle 172 will cause the ball to ride out of one groove, and it will be pressed into the other when the sliding member 168 is shifted.

The clutch shown will have .but slight friction at the beginning and will hold more securely as the Speed increases. The maximum separation of the weights allowed by the arrangement of parts shown will not be sufiicient to separate the tapered projections 166, 167 a greater distance than the diameter of the opening of the cone-shaped interior of member 168. Hence said member may be forced to the position shown in the drawing, even when the basket is spinning at full speed, and will not only remove the pressure from the frictional surfaces but will act as a brake upon the ends of the weights tending to stop the rotation of the shaft 137 and the basket.

To retain steam in vat 10 a cover, as 184, is desirable, which cover is shown as cut away at 185, 186, to permit of the reciprocation of bar 69. An outlet for vat 10 is indicated at 178, which may be suitably valved, and-an outlet at 179 for vat 11.

Analysis of the processes of washing fabrics will show that by far the largest portion, if not all washing action, depends upon the passage of water through the fabric. Friction or kneading may assist this action in that the water will thereby be forced through, as well as around, the individual threads of which the fabric is woven. In view of this the perforations 99 in the table 93 assume a great importance. In former types of suction cup machines, water forced the table may be made of a woven reticulated material, if preferred.

The principle above stated for washing fabrics is true of rinsing them also, since rinsing is really the act of washing out the soap. I have discovered that if the centrifugal extractor be revolved with washed material therein, at its full extractin rate of speed, and while so revolving one ucket of water be slowly oured therein adjacent the center, the water will pass outward through the fabric, carrying substantially all the soap with it. In this manner the material may be rinsed and the water removed in one operation without handling the material or putting the hands in the water. Indeed, by use of the elevating table in the washing vat the entire operation of washing, rinsing and extraction of water, the equivalent of wringing, may be accomplished without'putting the hands into the water.

Not the least diflicult problem solved by the present invention is the bringing of the washing, and rinsing and water-extracting vats together on a single base with a single source of power on the base adapted to selectivel operate either the washing or centrifuga apparatus, or both simultaneously.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a device of the .class described, in combination, a vat, washin means operable in said vat, a shaft pro ecting through the bottom of the vat, a revoluble clothes supporting table fixed upon the shaft within the vat, and means to impart intermittent motion of rotation to the shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a vat, washing cups reciprocable in the vat, a shaft projecting through the bottom of the vat, a table fixed upon the shaft within the vat, means to adjust the table vertically, and means to cause intermittent motion of revolution of the shaft at the end of the upstroke of said washing cups.

3. In a device of the class described, 'in combination, a vat, washing means operable within the vat, a revoluble table within the vat for supporting material to be 0 erated upon, means for adjusting said tab e vertically, and means exterior to the vat for imparting intermittent revoluble movement to the table.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a vat, washing cups reciprocable within the vat, an intermittently revoluble table within the vat for supporting material to be operated upon, and means for varying the vertical adjustment of said table within said vat.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base, a vat supported on said base, a vertically reciprocable laundering implement operable in said vat, a power arm connecting with said implement extending to the viclnity of said base, an intermittently movable table in said vat, a shaft extending from said table to the vicinity of said base,

a crank shaft supported on said base, a

crank secured to said crank shaft and connected to said power arm, means connected to said crank shaft to produce intermittent motion in said table'shaft.

6. A laundering machine comprising, in combination, a vat, an oscillating crank shaft supported below said vat, a crank on said crank shaft, a suction'cup mounted for reciprocation in said vat, a shaft projectin through the bottom of said vat, a table carrie by said shaft, means for vertically adjusting said shaft, ratchet means operated from said crank shaft for intermittently rotating said table-supporting shaft, and means connected to said crank for reciprocating said cu within the vat.

In a device of the class described, in combination, a vat, a cross-bar extending across the upper portion of said vat, a washing cup supported by said bar within the vat, a shaft projecting through the bottom of the vat, a clothes supporting table fixed upon the shaft within the vat, an oscillating power shaft, crank arms secured to the ends of said power shaft, connecting rods between said crank arms and the ends of said cross-bar for reciprocatin the same, a gear on said table-supporting s aft, an elongated spur gear meshing therewith, ratchet means operated by said power shaft for intermittently rotating sald spur gear, and means for raising and lowering said firstnamed gear while in mesh with said spur gear varying the height of said table.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a vat, washing cups reciprocable in said vat, a bar supporting said cups, bar-reciprocating rods pivoted at their upper ends to the ends of said bar, a shaft projecting through the bottom of the vat, a revoluble clothes supporting table supported upon the shaft within'the vat, an oscillating power shaft, crank arms pivotally connecting said shaft to said bar-reciprocatin rods, and means operated from said osci lating power shaft for imparting intermittent rotation of said table-supporting shaft.

9. In a laundering machine, the combination of a base, a vat supported above the base, a table shaft projecting through the bottom of said vat, a table carried by said shaft within said vat, an upright screw on said base adjacent to the table shaft, a yoke threaded on the screw and adapted to support said table shaft and means for rotating the screw.

10. In a laundering machine, in comblnation a base, a vat supported above said base,

5 a table shaft projecting through the bottom I0 shafts mounted in said base and rising parallel with said table shaft, a yoke having screw-threaded engagement with said pair of shafts and engaging with said groove, and means for causing simultaneous revolu- 15 tion of said screw-threaded shafts whereby said table may be adjusted for height or may be actuated to raise material above the water in the vat.

11. In a laundering machine comprising, in combination a vat, an oscillatory crank shaft supported below said vat, a crank on said crank shaft, a suction cup mounted for reciprocation in said vat, means whereby said crank may cause such reciprocation, a

shaft projeTzting through the bottom of said vat, a table carried by said shaft within the vat, means exterior of the vat for imparting to said table intermittent motion of rotation at the end of the upstroke of said cup.

WALTER H. COTTON. 

